Drapery support member

ABSTRACT

A drapery support member having a plurality of supporting tracks disposed in spaced relationship along the bottom, front and side walls of a base structure from which various combinations of curtains, draperies, valances and the like can be suspended to present a cooperative decoration.

United States Patent 1191 Grabman DRAPERY SUPPORT MEMBER [76] Inventor: Julia Maras Grabman, Rt. 6, PO.

Box 30, Grand Rapids, Mich. 55744 [22 Filed: Dec. 21, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 427,401

[52] U.S. CI 16/94 D; 16/93 D; 16/95 D [51] Int. Cl A47h H04 [58] Field of Search 16/93-96; 160/345-347 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,090,072 5/1963 Fridolph 16/93 D 3,574,887 4/197] Schindlauer 16/95 D FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 502,830 5/1951 France l6/93 D 1451 May 20, 1975 l2/l966 Austria 16/94 D l2/1947 Netherlands [6/94 D Primary Examiner-Mari0n Parsons, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A drapery support member having a plurality of supporting tracks disposed in spaced relationship along the bottom, front and side walls of a base structure from which various combinations of curtains, draperies, valances and the like can be suspended to present a cooperative decoration.

1 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures DRAPERY SUPPORT MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to support structures of various kinds and relates particularly to a drapery support member having a plurality of supporting tracks disposed along the bottom, front and side walls of a base member from which a plurality of curtains, draperies, shades, valances and the like can be supported.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the art of interior decorating much effort has been directed to facilitating the hanging of draperies, curtains, valances, blinds and the like. The basic curtain rods and traverse rods have been adapted for use in a plurality of situations as they have developed to be extensible, bendable, easily mountable, and designed having a variety of traversing mechanisms, curtain, and drapery supporting members. In many instances, however, several draperies, curtains, liners, shades, blinds or a combination thereof are used to decorate a single window or wall. This has required that separate rods or supports be used for each covering or decoration. Further, in many instances it is desired to provide valances to give the upper portion of the draperied area a more ornamental look or style as well as to cover or obscure the other supports, and thus another rod or support is required. Therefore, in order to decorate a window or wall area with anything more than a single drapery, curtain, or blind, it is necessary for the decorator to provide a plurality of supports which must be arranged in cooperative relationship both laterally and vertically with one another and must provide sufficient depth between such supports to permit the drapery or covering to be moved.

Some examples of the prior art include the US. Pat. Nos. to Lalus 838,867; Kirsch 1,942,712; Landau 2,104,261; Rost 2,341,119; Fridolph 2,496,910; Rosenbaum 2,790,558; Nowell 3,064,724; and Ford SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A multi-purpose drapery support member is provided having a rectilinear base structure with a first track structure disposed along the bottom wall thereof and including one or more spaced tracks disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal edge of the base from which one or more draperies, curtains, shades, or the like can be suspended and a second track structure disposed along the sides and front of the base member from which a valance or other ornamental structure can be supported in spaced relationship with the first track structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a drapery support member which can be easily attached to a wall, ceiling or window frame and from a plurality of draperies, curtains, valances, shades and the like can be either fixedly or traversely supported in both a functional and ornamentally spaced relation with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective illustrating one application of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective of the support member per se.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective of a modified form of support member.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation with portions broken away to show apparatusfor mounting the sup port member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustrating one type of hanger.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section showing the hanger of FIG. 8 in use.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of another hanger.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section showing the hanger of FIG. 10 in use.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section showing another hanger in use.

FIG. 13 is a vertical section showing still another hanger in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continued reference to the drawings, a multipurpose drapery support member 20 is provided having an elongated body 21 which may be formed of plastic, wood, or metal. The body 21 has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration with end walls 22, front wall 23, rear wall 24, and top and bottom walls 25 and 26, respectively. 7

In the embodiment of this invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of recessed, generally T- shaped drapery tracks 27 are integrally formed along the bottom wall of the body 21 and have downwardly open slots. The tracks 27 are in spaced relationship to each other and extend generally parallel to the front wall 23 along the length of the body. The interval between the tracks can be the same or the spacing between any two of the tracks can be different from the spacing between other tracks. Although three tracks 27a, 27b and 27c are shown, the body may have fewer or more tracks depending upon the particular decor desired.

The front wall 23 of the body is provided with a recessed, generally T-shaped track 28 extending the full length thereof which has an outwardly opening slot. An end track 29 having a T-shaped recess with an outwardly opening slot is detachably mounted by screws 30 or other suitable fasteners to each end wall of the body 21. Such end tracks are mounted so as to be substantially in alignment with the front track 28 to provide a generally continuous track structure along the end walls and front wall of the body from which a valance V or other decoration can be supported.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6, an elongated body 21' is provided having a plurality of independent, generally C-shaped tracks 35, 36 and 37 detachably connected by screws or other fasteners 28 to the bottom, front and side walls of the body, respectively. As in the previous embodiment, the detachable tracks 35 are mounted generally parallel to the front wall of the body and extend along the length thereof. The number of tracks 35 and the spacing therebetween are dependent upon the particular decor desired.

The tracks 35 normally are spaced below the bottom wall by spacers 39 which are disposed between the tracks and the body. The spacers 39 allow mounting hardware such as corner brackets 40 to be easily secured to the bottom wall of the body without any interference with the operation of the tracks 35. Although spacers 39 have been illustrated and described, it is contemplated that the body 21' could be grooved to provide recessed areas into which one leg of the bracket could be secured and thereby allow the tracks to be mounted in direct contact with the body.

Although a variety of hooks, hangers, tapes, rods and traversing mechanism may be used to suspend curtains, draperies, Valances, and the like from the tracks of the drapery support member, FIGS. 3, 4 and 8-13 show various hangers which are particularly adaptable. Each of the hangers shown is specifically designed to be movably mounted in the track and are adapted to serve a particular function.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, the valance V is shown as being slidably supported in the front track 28 and end tracks 29 by an elongated rod or tape structure 41 which is either inserted through a pocket or hem along the back side of the valance, or is sewn or adhered thereto. A flexible rod or tape allows the valance to be shirred or gathered along the length of the body to give a ruffled or pleated effect even if the valance is sewn or adhered to the rod or tape. A rigid rod can be utilized to obtain the same gathered effect when placed in a slidable engagement through a pocket of the valance as previously described as the pleats will be secured by frictional engagement between the rod and the tracks.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a valance hanger 42 is slidably mounted in the front track 28 or 36 and such hanger includes a stem 43 having a head 44 at one end and a downwardly extending arm or carrier 45 connected to the other end. The arm 45 has a plurality of openings 46 through which a book (not shown) on the back of the valance can be selectively received. In this structure, the head 44 is received within the track and the stem 43 extends through the slot thereof so that the hanger can be moved lengthwise of the track.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, a drapery hanger 48 is provided which is slidably mounted in the bottom tracks 27 or 35 and extends downwardly therefrom. The hanger 48 includes a stem 49 having a head 50 at the upper end and an arm or carrier 51 at the lower end. The arm 51 can beintegrally formed with the stem 49 or can be formed separately and attached thereto in any desired manner, as by adhesives or the like. The arm 51 has a plurality of openings 52 through which a hook or other connecting member carried by the drapery, curtain, liner or the like can be selectively mounted.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, a hanger 55 is provided having a slide member 56 and an adjustable support 57. The slide member 56 includes a central stem 58 having flanges 59 and 60 at opposite ends and a threaded bore 61 extending axially therethrough. The upper flange 59 is slidably mounted within the T-shaped track 27 or 35 and the stem 58 extends outwardly of the slot. The support 57 includes a hook, ring, or other carrier 62 having a threaded shaft 63 which engages the threads of the bore 61 and extends through the slide member into engagement with the upper portion of the track to lock the support in fixed adjusted position.

With reference to FIG. 13, a drapery hanger65 is provided which may be clamped in adjusted position. In this structure, the hanger 65 includes upper and lower slide members 66 and 67, respectively, connected by a support 68. The upper slide member 66 has a stem 69 with a flange 70 at one end which is slidably mounted within a track 27 and 36. The stem 69 extends partially through the slot of the track and normally is either square or rectangular in horizontal cross-section so that it does not rotate within the slot. A threaded bore 71 is provided generally along the vertical axis of the upper slide member 66. The lower slide member 67 is located exteriorly of the track snd is provided with a non-threaded bore 72 along the vertical axis thereof. The support 68 includes a body 73 having a threaded shaft 74 extending upwardly from one side and a hook, ring or other carrier 75 extending downwardly from the other side. The shaft 74 extends through the bore 72 of the lower slide member 67 and threadedly engages the bore 71 of the upper slide member to selectively clamp the'slide members 66 and 67 to the track.

The drapery fixture can be mounted to either a wall W, window sill (not shown), or a ceiling C. FIGS. 1-5 show the support member mounted on a wall by means of standard wall mounting brackets 40 having one leg secured to the wall and the other leg secured to either the top or bottom of the body 21 or 21 of the member as may be desired. FIG. 7 shows the body 21 or 21' as it would be mounted to a ceiling by use of screws 76. If desired, the body may be spaced from the ceiling by spacers 77, through which the screws 76 extend.

In use, the body of the support member is first cut to fit the width of the area, window frame, or the like which it is desired to decorate. As discussed previously, the number of drapery tracks 17 can be varied and will be dependent on the decor which is to be achieved. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the support member is shown as having three drapery tracks spaced at various distances from the front valance track in FIG. 4 only two tracks are shown on the bottom wall of the body. After the bodyhas been cut to length, a desired number of hangers, 42, 48, 55 or 65 are inserted in the tracks 27, 28 or 35, after which end tracks 29 or 37 are attached to opposite ends of the body and the body is mounted on the building by the brackets 40 or screws 76. Valances, ruffles, or other ornamental structures can then be supported in the front track 28. As illustrated best in FIG. 1, a drapery D is suspended from the outermost drapery track 17a by suitable carriers, a sheer curtain S is suspended from the adjacent drapery track 17b and, as an example, a thermal liner L or other curtain or shade is suspended from the innermost track 17c. When the drapery, sheer curtain, liner, etc. aremounted on rods or tapes 41, they should be inserted in the tracks 27 or 35 before at least one of the end tracks is attached.

It is apparent that a variety of drapes, curtains, valances and the like are carried by the support member in spaced relationship with each other and may be either fixedly secured or mounted for traverse movement thereby allowing the decorator a variety of techniques and combinations with which to achieve a desired decorative effect.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for supporting a plurality of hanging structures from a building wall, comprising an elongated body having a front wall, rear wall, first and second end walls, and top and bottom walls, a plurality of first track means extending the full length of said bottom wall in generally parallel relationship with each other and said front wall, a plurality of spacer means disposed between at least one of said first track means and said bottom wall of said body so that said one of said first track means is maintained in spaced relationship to said bottom walls of said body, second track means disposed along the full length of said front wall, third track means detachably mounted on each of said plurality of said first track means and said bottom wall of said body, whereby said spacer means permit said body to be supported on said second leg of said mounting bracket means without interfering with said first track means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 1 3,883,924 DATED 1 May 20, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Julia Maras Grabman It is certified that error appears in the ab0ve identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and Scaled this twenty-ninth Day Of July1975 [SEAL] A trest:

RUTH C. MASON i-tllexlr'ng Officer C. MARSHALL DANN (mnmissr'nnvr uj Iarerrls and Trademarks 

1. Apparatus for supporting a plurality of hanging structures from a building wall, comprising an elongated body having a front wall, rear wall, first and second end walls, and top and bottom walls, a plurality of first track means extending the full length of said bottom wall in generally parallel relationship with each other and said front wall, a plurality of spacer means disposed between at least one of said first track means and said bottom wall of said body so that said one of said first track means is maintained in spaced relationship to said bottom walls of said body, second track means disposed along the full length of said front wall, third track means detachably mounted on each of said first and second end walls of said body, each of said third track means being substantially coplanar with said second track means, a plurality of bracket means for supporting said elongated body on the building wall, said bracket means having one leg engaging the wall and a second leg extending substantially perpendicular to said first leg and disposed between said one of said plurality of said first track means and said bottom wall of said body, whereby said spacer means permit said body to be supported on said second leg of said mounting bracket means without interfering with said first track means. 